Disabled Parking, Placards and Plates

A blue placard is for a person who has a permanent disability. This placard is renewable every 4 years. A red placard is for a person who has a temporary disability. This placard expires in 6 months or less. A license plate with the International Symbol of Access (ISA) is for a person who has a permanent disability.

Those with a disabled parking placard or a license plate displaying the ISA may:

Park in any spot designated for persons with disabilities.

Be exempt from local and state government parking meters. State law does not allow you to exceed the meter limit, but cities may pass ordinances to extend your meter time.

Eligibility

Placard and plate eligibility is based on a medical condition that meets the legal definition of a disability. "Disability" means a condition in which a person has:

Visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correcting lenses

Visual acuity of more than 20/200 but with a limited field of vision in which the widest diameter of the visual field subtends an angle of 20 degrees or less

Mobility problems that substantially impair a person's ability to move around; these problems can be caused by:

Paralysis

Lung disease

Cardiac deficiency

Wheelchair confinement

Arthritis

Foot disorder

Other medical condition causing a person to use a brace, cane, crutch or other assistive device.

A parking placard or plate is ONLY valid when being used by the person with the disability or someone who is driving the person with the disability.

It is a violation of state law to use the placard or plates for a disabled parking spot without the person with the disability in the vehicle. People who misuse disabled parking placards are subject to fines of up to $1,250 and/or up to 50 hours of community service.

How to Apply or Renew

How to Apply

You may apply for a placard and/or plate at your local county tax assessor-collector's office.

To apply for a "permanent" (blue) placard or "temporary" (red) placard, you must:

Ask your doctor or health care provider to complete the Disability Statement section of the application

Submit the completed application and payment (if applicable) to your county tax office

How to Renew

To renew a "permanent" (blue) placard, you must:

Complete the Affidavit portion of a new application (not the disability statement), including the signature of the applicant

Submit a copy of the original application, along with the new application to your county tax office. If you do not have a copy of your application, you may also submit your expiring placard(s) to your county tax office.

Note: If you have a "temporary" (red) placard that expires, you will need to apply for a new placard if your temporary disability extends beyond the six-month limit.

Out-of-State/Out-of-Country Visitors

Out-of-State/Out-of-Country Visitors

If you are visiting Texas from another state or country, your valid disabled parking placard and plates will be honored, providing the placard/plate is valid. However, you must abide by Texas laws regarding parking privileges, which may be different from your home state or country.

If the purpose of your visit is to seek medical treatment in Texas and you have a permanent disability, you may apply for a six-month disabled placard at no charge. If the six-month placard expires before your medical treatment ends, you will need to apply for a new one.

Lost, Stolen & Seized Placards

Lost or Stolen Placard

If your placard is lost or stolen, you can replace it by presenting a copy of the Form VTR-214 that you originally submitted, to your local county tax assessor-collector office. If you do not have a copy of the form or the county tax assessor-collector office cannot verify the placard was issued, you will need to apply for a new disabled placard by completing a new application.

Seizure of Placard

A law enforcement officer may seize a placard if the officer believes a parking offense has been committed. Confiscated placards are destroyed by the law enforcement office no later than the fifth working day after the placard is seized. Law enforcement will notify TxDMV of the destroyed placard and we will mark it as revoked in our database.

DisabledVeterans

Disabled Veteran license plates feature "DV" as part of the license plate number. DV-designated plates provide the same parking rights and privileges as a plate with the International Symbol of Access. To qualify:

You must be a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, with a service-connected disability of at least 50 percent, or at least 40 percent due to the amputation of a lower extremity, and

Honorably discharged, receiving compensation from the U.S. government as a result of such disability.

Texas cities may provide additional parking privileges, such as free parking at the airport. Check with your local city officials.

Vehicles with Disabled Veteran license plates may be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of an institution of higher education regardless of whether a permit is generally required for the use of the space or area. For more information about campus parking privileges, please contact the institution of higher education.

In addition to the Disabled Veteran plate, certain military honors license plates are also eligible for exemptions from payment of certain parking fees, including:

Air Force Cross

Air Medal

Air Medal with Valor

Army Distinguished Service Cross

Bronze Star

Bronze Star with Valor

Congressional Medal of Honor

Defense Superior Service Medal

Distinguished Flying Cross

Distinguished Service Medal

Former Prisoner of War

Legion of Merit

Legion of Valor

Medal of Honor

Navy Cross

Pearl Harbor Survivor

Purple Heart

Silver Star

World War II Veterans

More Information

For more information, please call our customer help line at (888) 368-4689 or (512) 465-3000.